Whitehaven have lost their first “match” of the 2022 season – beaten by the Rugby Football League.
The Cumbrians wanted to stick with the opening date of Saturday, January 29 for their first Betfred Championship fixture against Leigh Centurions.
Leigh approached Whitehaven about moving it to the Sunday due to stadium availability having made their travel arrangements weeks ago.
Today a Whitehaven spokesman said: “After deliberation with the RFL and Leigh we put our case across about player welfare and issues regarding players working but it’s fallen on deaf ears.
“We can only apologise to our players who had already agreed to play on the Saturday, now be told it’s a Sunday.
“Also apologies to our fans who had arranged buses for the Saturday and now will have to change to the Sunday.
“It’s been taken out of the club’s hands and a decision was made by an RFL appeals panel after we appealed the decision.”
Several Whitehaven players had made shift alterations to play on the Saturday while Haven are reported to have three fans’ buses travelling for the game on the original date.
Meanwhile Haven have also announced that they will be playing one more pre-season friendly ahead of that opener at Leigh.
After clashing with neighbours Workington Town on January 16 for the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy they will travel to League One Swinton Lions on Sunday, January 23.
Coach Jonty Gorley said: “It’s another chance of a run-out before the start of the season. All the lads are looking forward to it.”
